Air Cmde Pete Wilson’s Congo Photo Album

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Various photographs from Air Cmde Pete Wilson’s collection.

Congo 1962.

The ONUC B(I)58s

IF-898
IF-901 with 106 Sqn
IF-907 Pvd IAFM Palam
IF-908
IF-961
IF-962

 

As a Flight Commander with No 5 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Peter Wilson was in the second IAF contingent to serve with ONUC, the UN force in the Congo. The first detachment was led by Wing Commander (later Air Commodore) AIK Suares, who served from Oct 1961 till early 1962. Read the details of Operations carried out by the first detachment.

They were relieved in early 1962 by a contingent commanded by Wg Cdr (later Air Marshal) Saroj Jena. This second contingent served in the Congo until October 1962.  No 5 Squadron Detachment, IAF, was based at Leopoldville (now Kinshasa). Sqn Ldr Wilson was with the detachment till Oct 63. Read about his experiences in this article.

Sqn Ldr PM Wilson, and an IAF Canberra of No 5 Sqn IAF Detachment, ONUC, Leopoldville / Elizabethville 1962 -
- Sqn Ldr PM Wilson with his crew chief (Can anyone provide an id?), Leopoldville/Elizabethville 1962
L to R: Flt Lt SL Dutta (Wilson’s navigator), Sqn Ldr PM Wilson, and Flt Lt Sachdeva, all of No 5 Sqn Detachment, 1962. Note the UN Berets worn by Dutta and Sachdeva alt
- Members of No 5 Sqn Detachment, ONUC, 1962 (Can anyone provide ids?)
Sachdeva (Far Left) and Wilson (Far Right) flank other members of No 5 Sqn Detachment, ONUC, 1962 (Any ids would be appreciated) -
- Sqn Ldr PM Wilson, ONUC, 1962
Flt Lt Padmanabha ‘Bob’ Gautam (later Wing Commander, MVC & bar, VM) and Sqn Ldr SC Singh (later Captain, Air India), both of whom served with No 5 Sqn Detachment in the Congo -
alt Sqn Ldr PM Wilson in his office in Leopoldville/Elizabethville
Sqn Ldr PM Wilson at the wheel of his jeep, in Leopoldville/Elizabethville -
- At the airport cafeteria in Leopoldville. Note the ‘INDIA’ Shoulder Flashes.
On the tarmac — Leopoldville, Elizabethville or Nairobi? -
- Sqn Ldr PM Wilson in the cockpit of Canberra IF-908, homeward bound. This photograph may have been taken by Flt Lt P Gautam.

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